The Convoluted Lives Of Bachelor-Level Students

After the completion of secondary education in Nepal, the students are pushed into the web of limited choices and opportunities. There are two choices that are generally offered to Nepali teenagers, and obviously it's either going abroad or pursuing a bachelor’s in their own country.

Honestly, as a victim of a similar situation, I can undoubtedly assert that life never remains the same after completing the secondary level education. Happiness turns into gloom, excitement fades into mundanity, and dreams are often crushed under the weight of endless responsibilities. Leaving home in search of a better future and stability is one of the hardest realities many Nepalis have to face due to limited access to opportunities.

When we decide to join a bachelor's and continue our studies further, the first barrier that obstructs our path is the cost factor. The education system of our country still heavily relies on traditional approaches, making it obsolete and forcing students to trust the international affiliates. However, each and every individual dreaming to craft a future here by pursuing bachelor studies cannot afford the fee structure set by them.

All of a sudden, students are compelled to join colleges or universities that charge the least fees and offer limited practical exposure. Moreover, children who are raised with profound love, care, and nurturing for more than 18 years are no longer able to experience such affection, as they are forced to leave their homes in search of a better future due to limited educational opportunities in rural areas. Due to the least access to educational privileges in such sectors, the developed cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Biratnagar, have become educational hubs, making these cities densely populated and busy.

A rented house with limited space becomes a student’s reality, something they hardly ever envisioned. Life lacks joy, and energy is drained by a busy lifestyle, rigid schedules, constant pressure, and minimal social interaction and networking.

In this way, a new journey begins in unfamiliar places with high hopes of shaping four meaningful academic years and laying the foundation for a positive and dynamic professional life. During this phase, they grow, learn, fall, and rise again, gradually understanding what life truly is and what it takes to unlock the door to boundless success. They also gain a deep understanding of the value of time, money, hard work, and scarcity—lessons they had never encountered before. One of the most profound realisations in this difficult and complex journey is that starvation is not only about the lack of food; it is also linked to the hunger for success. An empty stomach paired with an empty wallet, limited resources, academic pressure, minimal peer support, and repeated setbacks ultimately drive them to build a strong, meaningful, and purposeful career with an unyielding spirit to fight back. 

As bachelor’s students, we make countless sacrifices for the single dream of emerging triumphant in life, even though the outcome of those sacrifices remains uncertain. Saying goodbye to school and college friends and parting ways with them is one of the most significant sacrifices at this stage. Likewise, we give up our parents’ love and care—something we deeply long for. Beyond this, we also bid farewell to joys, passions, aspirations, and ambitions, reshaping our behaviour, routines, and lifestyles to align with what we are striving to achieve. Yet these sacrifices do not demoralise us; instead, they ignite new passion, zeal, and energy to attain the results for which we have given up so much.

What truly propels bachelor’s students in Nepal is the optimism they hold for professional establishment. We scroll through social media and see the improvement of friends who moved abroad right after completion of secondary level education. The fashionable clothes they wear, the high-priced food they enjoy, and the costly products they show off tend to compare and contrast stark differences, which stir feelings of discontent. These feelings might inspire us, even though we could never be as sophisticated as they are, to work harder and come out on top to result in the same life. We do not step back; instead, we fight for our future and strive to achieve our desired outcomes by channelling our dedication into academic growth over four consecutive years.

(Budhathoki is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Nepal Business College.)